Open Thread: Design No-nos for Women’s Workwear
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Update: This is still a fun discussion on design no-nos for women's workwear — but if you want to see our current thoughts on design mistakes for workwear, click here! Wondering what we LOVE? Take a look at our wardrobe essentials for work!
Far too frequently, I see a garment that makes me want to take the designer by the shoulders, shake them, and ask WHAT WERE YOU THINKING? I thought it might be fun to round up some of the design issues that bother me on a daily basis, and see which ones bug you guys as well. (Update: Check out this post on workwear trends we hate!)
Some of my biggest no-nos include:
– Women's suit jackets that don't have pockets (or have faux pockets). Hellooo, we need to stick business cards somewhere — and a phone if we can swing it. This may be one thing for blazers, which are more casual anyway, but it just seems like a total sin for jackets that are part of a suit. Networking is difficult enough, and I've frequently been at cocktail events where you're already trying to juggle a drink, appetizers, and leave a hand free to shake hands — and you're supposed to be carrying a purse or wallet with you also?
– Double-breasted looks. These come in and out of vogue — for sweaters! for jackets! — and I wish someone would show me the woman who looks good in a double-breasted anything.
– Shiny suits. Ye gods, what event makes a woman say, “What to wear? I know — that super shiny suit.” These suits are not dressy enough to fall into the “cocktail” vibe that some suits fall in (you know the ones — rhinestone buttons, lace details, often perfect for a society matron's night out on the town) — and they're so inappropriate for the office that it's laughable. Maybe in Vegas?
– V-neck shirts that add a collar on the upper portion of the neck (and not on the placket) — I suppose there might be an instance where this look might be acceptable, but it always strikes me as cheap.
– The suit with either a mini-skirt or shorts. Really, are there so many teenagers and actresses buying suits that there need to be so many of these? (In the example above — hey, the skirt is as long as her fingertips…)
Readers, what are your favorite complaints about workwear designs?
Cropped suit pants! Why???
Hi L! Not the same L, but I am going to extend your comment to cropped pants in general. They flatter about .01% of the women who wear them. Everyone else, they cut at just the wrong place, so they look stumpy.
This post seems to presume that designers are creating pieces specifically to be worn in professional offices. That’s not always the case.
Ta-da! That’s really the problem–no one is really designing for the workplace. Or they all assume a more business casual dress code. Ann Taylor used to be dependable but they’ve moved on.
My pet peeve, being a fairly tall but not gigantic gal, is that regular pant lengths are 30″ in most places, and tall sizes are 35″. 35″? Not that many women are THAT tall, I am 5-10 with long legs, and 33″ is perfect for me, with 3″ heels. So why is there no medium-tall length, say 32-33″? Why do I have to pay top dollar for nice slacks plus pay to get them hemmed? Or have them too short to wear with anything but ballet flats?
Also I agree with all about the sleeveless blouses. Yes, they look fine under a jacket or sweater, but I would never wear one to work without, as my underarms, well… they are 52 years old. Enough said. And plus you are giving your jacket or sweater direct contact with the pits.
Last, about blouses…most are too low cut! And I don’t like the camisole sticking out above the neckline at work look. Unless they are the exact same color and clearly made to go together as a set. But now you have not one but two garments to clean! Argh!
ps: Why do pantyhose and tights roll down if you are tall and have a bit of a belly? I am referring to decent quality, control top, properly sized per the graph on the package, department store brand stuff, not drugstore brand. Note, I am not fat, just have a bit of a tummy bulge. My sister has the same problem. Ridiculous!
I hate hate hate the rolling top of nylons/pants/leggings. Is it too hard to imagine a woman who might want to wear these things, and whose middle might be a thicker than her thighs?
I’ve had good luck with high-waisted Spanxx (or Assets or whatever).
No, please don’t restrict “tall” pants lengths to 33″! I’m 5’10” too, but 34″ is my inseam with no shoes on. And I would love to find these pants that come in at 35″ or above – many of the “tall” sizes I’ve run across have inseams from 32″ to 34″.
Re: the pantyhose. 1) size up – those charts are never quite right for the long of leg, and 2) buy control top. I don’t enjoy having to buy plus or “queen” size just because I’m tall, but I’d rather do that than be yanking my hose up all day. The control top is the real factor. Even if you have no tum to “control” the extra elasticity helps the hose stay up. A very nice lady in Nordstrom’s hosiery department taught me all of this years ago.
Talbots tall pants are 35″. I buy these and have them hemmed up. Check them out if that is the length you need. Wow, I thought I had long legs!
Also I was not suggesting eliminating the 35″ pants length, just that a mid-tall would be great for a lot of people, I am sure. LL Bean does a “Medium Tall” option along with their “Tall” and “Regular”and Petite”. These are great for khakis or jeans or whatever but they don’t have much in the way of proper slacks.
Three-quarter length sleeves on jackets, suit coats, thick sweaters and turtlenecks. I mean, c’mon. If it’s cold enough to wear a sweater, maybe you don’t want your goose-pimply forearms hanging out of it! And ditto the comment about sleeveless blouses and tops. And about the ubiquitous low-cut neckline. I just finally found a plain cotton (no spandex!), long-sleeved blouse in light blue at an affordable price in my size (a plus size, so add the additional ten degrees of difficulty), and I can’t wear it without a camisole because it would expose everything. My solution is to take everything to a tailor to have extra buttonholes put higher up. I suppose a sewing machine with a fancy buttonhole attachment might be a cheaper solution at the rate I’m going…
Can I add that double breasted jackets (and peak lapels) look good on NO ONE. I worked my very first job as a tuxedo sales clerk and this has ALWAYS driven me nuts. It dates you, horribly.
YES! THIS!
I too worked in tuxedo sales, and there was never a single man who looked good in a double-breasted, much less a woman.
So what we are saying is there’s a huge gap in the Market for well made, accurately sized, decently priced, traditional with some funky details work wear for women?
I can’t tell you how sick I am of jackets that are too short. This has been the fashion for what, two years now? Why would ANY woman want to look like she’s wearing her little sister’s clothes, or worse, look like she has grown out of her own clothes.
And, why do designers think any woman looks good in a shirt or jacket where the waist is up above her elbows?
Oh, and don’t get me started on the “baby doll” look. Only cute if you are about 5, or if you’re pregnant!
I really dislike 3/4-length sleeves on jackets – I work in an office underground and it’s cold even without the air conditioner running, and 3/4-length sleeves make me wish I’d worn a sweater instead. I’m also not fond of ruched sleeves on suiting and shirts – looks messy and un-polished.
I totally agree about pockets – how hard is this one, designers??? I’m at networking receptions, lunches, meet-and-greets almost every day, and I need a place to put business cards and my cell phone that isn’t my purse or a “wristlet.” Practicality seems to rule men’s suiting, why not women’s?
thank you so much for mentioning the double-breasted thing!! i hate it so much… and it feels like every professional winter coat i’ve ever seen has been double-breasted :o( boo…
also seconding the jacket pocket thing… i am actually sooo excited that Banana Republic has finally started putting inside pockets in their women’s suit jackets! Yay! best idea ever, what took so long? it’s the perfect place for the business cards or a pen…
ooo, and can i add suit style clothing, blazers and jackets that are made with unfinished/frayed edges (usually in cottons or wools) example: http://www.bluefly.com/Elizabeth-James-beige-cotton-frayed-cropped-band-jacket/cat20006/311779601/detail.fly
on what planet is fraying and exposed seams work-appropriate? blech…. Or a blazer in heathered gray cotton jersey? why would i want to look like i’m wearing a hoodie when i’m not?
Flabby construction. Put a little support in that shoulder! Put some interfacing in that collar band so it sits properly!
What’s the difference between a jacket and a blazer? I always assumed they were the same thing…
A blazer is a more casual type of jacket. It may be cut bigger and boxier than a jacket that is part of a skirt suit, and often has patch pockets and/or brass buttons. Navy is a very popular color.
Double-breasted jackets can look good on pear-shaped women.
I don’t feel as strongly about pockets as I once did. Actually using them distorts the silhouette, sometimes destroys the pocket and makes me look fat. Plus, I always have a bag with me.
I hate skirts that can’t be walked in, unlined skirts, slits that go up to there, too-sheer blouses, and hooker high heels.
All i want is equal opportunity in suit jackets. Its not appropriate to carry a purse to court, but I have keys, business cards & a cell phone. Don’t fail to give me an internal pocket & make me look like a frazzled mess or subject me to using my bra as a pocket.
Pant suits that are perfect in every way except that the pant bottom is wayyyy too much of a bell-bottom or wayyyy too skinny. It is so difficult to find pant suits that don’t make me look cheap/like a teen (like people mentioned, unlined, too tight, too much of a skinny ankle, too short) and ones that don’t make me look like I got dressed in the 80s. ESPECIALLY while shopping on a budget.